Today's the big day, I thought as soon as I woke up. Rose and I ate some toast with strawberry honey butter spread accompanied by glasses of milk to start on a sweet note. We haven't seen May since she left without her phone to be given away and guitar to be placed on display. Rose and I don't normally chat while we get ready to go to school because she would be chatting with May. And if I was to go overboard with small-talking, I would be shushed. Because we both appreciate silence, we just sit and eat without being caught looking at each other. When we finished, we walked out and glanced at May's car that she left in the parking lot with the keys being in a kitchen drawer. We decided to not drive that car anymore because the radio stations would randomly change on us and it creeped us all out. Dr Wurzel can steal it if he wants.

Rose's white SUV was relatively untouched considering how much we relied on May to go to school and back, so Rose went over rules before we drove off. Although crabby, May was never the type to be strict and rage whenever I accidentally made a mess in her car, unlike the uptight Rose. I didn't have a beverage with me and didn't plan on bringing one, so already going over rules shows how much she trusts me: as much as I do of her. We picked Sam up from her house and her expression gave away her relief for the new ride as she stepped in with caution. We then arrived at school, which takes us less time to do without May because although she is a real demon, Rose is the speed demon.

Posters and bulletins were hung throughout this month promoting the school play, Much Ado About Nothing, sometimes including in small text "featuring the interlude band Chimps." Not quite what we agreed on, but I appreciate the shout-out. The school intercom announced the play and brought up the price and location.

"Come support Drama as they perform Much Ado About Nothing tonight at 7!" the student of the intercom announced. "Doors open at 6:30 right here at the school auditorium. Students, bring your ID's! Teachers come in for free! ... Oh, what's that? ... A surprise band?! ... Ah, yes! With a special appearance by the- Chimpanzees performing right after the interlude. Be sure to buy snacks while you're waiting for the show to go on!"

"'Chimpanzees,'" a classmate laughed as everyone else tagged along.

I tried to hide my red face behind my arms. Chimpanzees?! What on Earth-?! I hoped that we would not be a joke for long. Whoever was helping the girl out during the announcements, again, thanks. I appreciate the shout-out, but I think announcing "with a special appearance by a new surprise band" would have been more intriguing and less of a laughing stock than that. Perhaps we should have stuck with Rose's band name idea "Black Roses," but not even she was set on that name. During lunch, I met Sam at our table and we already knew what to talk about.

"Did you hear the announcements?" she asked, laughing.

"How could I not?" I sighed with a weak smile. "There are a few reasons why people will show up tonight. One, they're teachers. Two, they're friends and family of the performers. Three, they'll show up for us curiously and for the wrong reason."

"You don't think we'll be a joke to them, do you? Not after we show them what we've been working on for weeks! The cover is not the book! Think of all the bands with silly names."

"Obungus."

"Yes."

"You're right. My nervousness still gets the best of me sometimes. Of course, no one cares about band names, so why should I?"

"Maybe we'll be famous one day and Tamarinz alone will be music to their ears."

"That would be a bit silly, but maybe that's not a bad thing as long as we have fun."

"That's the spirit!"

"Where?!" Amy's voice echoed from Sam's necklace, startling me and Sam, so she had to push her chest to simmer it down.

"Not that spirit," Sam whispered to her.

"Oh," Amy whispered back.

"You're gonna do great, No-Eyes," Sam gave me two thumbs up.

"So are you and Amy," I gave two thumbs up back. "And Rose and Nick, I guess. Come to think of it, we could have just done a cover of an existing song or two that fits the play, but this was worth it."

"You said it."

"Now the only thing I'm sort of worried about is May."

"Yeah. What exactly is supposed to happen?"

"I think that since Rose summoned her, she might know how to take her back."

"... Did you say she 'summoned her?'" Sam's eyes widened.

"Yeah," I laughed. "Crazy stuff."

I explained what I knew to her for the last few minutes until we had to finish the rest of the school day. We immediately practised Sam's two songs after school. We also decided to practice our introduction on stage with Nick being our audience on the couch. After self-teaching himself how to edit holograms, Nick managed to have May's image and audio be presentable on stage. His phone lied on the floor projecting where May would have been and was set on pause for Amy to stealthily unpause. I didn't know where to start, but Rose did.

"I'm the leader of the band," she stated. "So I might as well be the speaker."

"But you didn't name it!" Nick shouted, being in character.

"You didn't have to pretend to be the audience yet," Rose muttered.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Amy shouted in a referee voice. "Let's give it up for Chiiimpz! Oh, wait, I meant Tamariiinz!"

"Woo!" Nick awkwardly clapped by himself.

"Ahem," Rose began. "Welcome, music fans and Shakespeareans alike. We are the Tamarinz. I am the founder and bassist, Rose."

"I'm No-Eyes," I waved. "The singer, melodica player and... The tallest, apparently. Besides Amy." I looked around with a smirk on my face for a second as I said that.

"Shut up," Rose face-palmed.

"Er," Sam began. "I'm Samantha. I'm obviously the drummer."

"I'm May," Amy tried to mimic May but unintentionally did an unfamiliar constipated voice, using her unattached fist to lipsync through the hologram.

"What on Earth was that?" Rose tried not to laugh as Nick was cracking up.

"And I'm Amy. How ya doin'?"

"Doin' good," Nick shouted in character. "Or should I say 'Feel Good?'"

"Now without further ado," Rose continued. "This first song was written by the wonderful Samantha. If you don't like this song, then I'll cut you open and use your blood to write my next songs-"

"ER," Nick buzzed. "Wrong! That's not what the audience wants to hear!"

"Just being honest," Rose defended.

"They don't have to like it," Sam bashfully commented.

"I'm sure they'll love it," I told her.

"Okay," Rose sighed. "Forget that last part."

Rose then cued Sam. She tapped her drumsticks to count us off and we began the first song as Nick cheered. With Amy's hand still detached, she pressed the play button of the hologram at the right moment. It flew back to her arm quickly afterwards and she danced along to the song until her rap part began. We knew the song by heart, so the playthrough went smoothly. When we stopped, Nick cheered again.

"Thank you," I smiled.

"This next song is also from Sam,' Rose started. "Just as brilliant as the first-"

"Er, sorry to interrupt," Sam asked. "But do you really mean what you say about my songs?"

"Yes, my dear," Rose gave a seemingly genuine smile.

"Aww!" Nick shouted in character once more.

"I'll chuck my heel at you," Rose threatened him.

I laughed and shook my head. Rose cued Sam again and we went through the same procedure for the second song, this time going as smoothly as the previous song. Nick stood up and applauded as we all took a bow together.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of Much Ado About Nothing!" I shouted.

"And scene," Amy concluded.

"That was great, guys!" Nick cheered. "I'll be in tears at the show."

"Oh!" I remembered. "This reminds me! I need to call my family to remind them! Sam, did you let your's know?"

"Yeah," she replied.

"Rose-?" I cut myself off. "... Nevermind."

"I didn't want her to come anyway," she commented, looking away.

Shaking off guilt, I dialled my father's number as fast as I could. The wait wasn't long for him to answer.

"Hello?" 2-D picked up.

"Hi, dad!" I smiled. "I know you saved the date, but I just wanted to remind you-"

"What date?" he asked.

"Er..." I was surprised that he forgot.

"Just kiddin', love," he chuckled. "Of course we'll all show up for your first gig! Good luck. I'm proud of you."

"Shoulda saved it for after the show," I blank tears of joy away. "Thanks. I love you."

"Oh, well. Love ya, too."

We both hung up and I accidentally made eye-contact with Rose, so she had to comment.

"I'm touched," she commented with a blank expression. "Everyone pack up your instruments."

I felt absolutely horrible. It was insensitive of me to not step outside to the balcony and fall to my death after breaking it with my first step. That's how bad I felt. We all did as we were told and were already dressed so we were ready to watch the first half of Much Ado About Nothing before going onstage. Sam's drum kit fit miraculously in the trunk of the SUV with the rest of the instruments in their cases making it more steady. It was excruciatingly noisy and unpredictable because of the symbols driving Rose insane and she could barely see behind her with it in the way. We made it to the parking lot in one piece. Amy was the one who fit the drums in there and took it out just as fast and with ease, so she snuck it in through the emergency exit that led to backstage. Rose, Sam, Nick and I walked in with our instruments to the girl who did the announcements this morning and was now in charge of entry. Nick was about to ask where exactly to go to drop everything off, but she looked up and revealed her distinct blue eyes.

"ID's, please," the girl spoke in May's voice with a devilish grin.

"May!" Rose gasped. "Who do you think you are possessing this poor awkward teenager?!"

"I'm begging you, May," I pleaded. "Don't ruin this performance for us. I'm sorry for my family's mistakes. These guys don't deserve to be humiliated in front of everyone."

"So selfless," May menaced. "But you seem to have forgotten something, No-Hope. Didn't you learn anything from Rosie here? I'm not doing shite for you. You all won't have to worry about humiliation when I drag you all to-"

It was at that moment when a family walked in and May immediately escaped the body she possessed, which fell unconscious and was caught by Nick. He shook her awake to make her continue her duty.

"My, what a long nap you just had," Nick lied without her seeing his face. She spazzed out and accidentally startled the family.

"ID's, please!"

...